Machine for joining upholstery springs



c. D. GILMORE MACHINE FOR JOINiING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed March 31, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 1, 1935.

C. D. GILMORE MACHINE FOR JOINING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31, 1954 I Irurenm. (Z9 9 Z Q/man ,1935. c. D. GILMORE I MACHINE FOR JOINING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 51, 1934 Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED? STATES:

PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR JOINING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Chace. D. Gilmore,.West Chester, Pa., assignor to Peerless Springs, Incorporated, West Chester, Pa., acorporation' of Pennsylvania Application-Marchfl, 1934, Serial No; 718,466

23 Claims.

The present invention hasfor its main object to provide a machine for producing the particular. type of wire tie forming adouble hinge joint between two overlapped upholstery springs as illustrated described andclaimedin BettersPatent of the United States to Oliver Hetherington The main object of the present invention-is to provide a machine which will produce the type of tie referred td-abovepspeedilyrand efliciently, and which-isso-positioned as to permit thedisposition underneath the same, of spring assemblies for mattresses-and cushions which are to be equipped withsaid'hinge joints or ties.

A further object of the' invention is to provide a machine ofthetypespecified which includes mechanism for feedingthe necessary lengths of wire to-the tie-forming mechanism of'the machine, precedent' to each operation of the lastmentioned mechanism.

Other objects" of the invention will be understood. from, or specifically: set forth inthe fbl lowing specification! In the accompanying drawings illustrating a suitable embodiment of the invention':

Fig. 1 is a view-inside elevation=oi va ma'chine for wire-tying springs together in l the manner indicated, a portion ofthe feeding mechanism for said machine being shown and parts of the latter? 30'l"broken away.

Fig. '22 is a front elevation of said machine,

show-n partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a pl'an sectional view of the machine a andthe feeding mechanism therefor taken on the line 3-3"oiFig. 25

of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewg on. an enlarged:

" scale taken on-the line5*5 ofFig; 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale takenon the line-6 45- ofFig; 3' and 'showw ing a wire-engaging brake device ofthewire a feeding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a' fragmentary detail'plan" section on an enlarged-scale taken on the line 1-1 of Fig: 1 and showingntwo. springs andrpiece of Wirein place. in. the tie-forming, head preparatory to operation ofl saidlheadl Fig. 8-is' a view similar to'Fign'll showing. the

completed tie at the moment of cessation. of.

operationofthe tie-forming headi Fig. 9 isa detail-sectionalview takenonthe line 99 ofFig; '7; l l i Fig. 4 is'a fragmentary detail plan sectionalview on an enlarged scaletakenonthe line 4- 4.

exemplified by the springs'C) are disposed par- 10 'tially in overlapped position so as to present an opening borderedby arcuateiportions of said terminal convolutions, and: that these overlapped portions are disposedirra recess in a head or member (I), which is'r'otatable about its own axis" and about the said overlapped portions of said terminal convolutions.

Said member (I). is equippedwith spur gear teeth (2) and" is journalled in bearings in" the parallel vertical: plates (3) constituting a part of a machine frameand which are equipped'with suitable bearings for-the trunnions of spur gear wheels and 5) and also with: openings through which a drive shaft (6) projects, which is equippedrwith the spur gear wheel (1) meshing with the spur gear wheel (5) foreffectingrotation' of member (1), the gear teeth of which mesh withthe spur gear wheel (4). The several spur: gear wheels 4, 5, and '1 rotate, respectively,

in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1.

In the instance illustrated, the gear ratio between the driving gear wheel (7) and the member or head (I) is such" as to cause the latter to revolve at three times the speedof the drive-shaft (6).

The said recess of the head of the member (l)' is radial and extends from end to end of the same, its inner wall'being semi-cylindrical and concentric with the axis of rotation, thereof;

The. said plates (3-) are equipped with recesses (8) in their front edges which are flushwith 40 the recess in the member (1) which receives the overlapped convolutions of springs as shown in Figs. 7-to 10 inclusive.

As shown; particularly in Figs. 9 and 10, the

said member (I is equipped at opposite endpor- 45.

tions of the recesses therein and opposite ends of said member l with openings (9) which extend angularly of theaxis of said'member (l) l and in the plane of said axis which is thevertical plane of the same when disposed inthe position shown in Figs. 1 and 7 to 10 inclusive, and: is perpendicular to the flat walls of the recess in said member.

The said'openings are provided to receive a piece. l1) of wire whichpasses through said openings (9) and through the openings bordered by the overlapped arcuate portion of the terminal convolutions of the springs A and B and, at its end portions, is tied about said end convolutions at the points at which they cross each other.

The said member (I) is rotated through a definitenumberof revolutions at each of the tying operations, the number of revolutions depending upon the gear ratio between the shaft (3) and the member (I) and the number of turns or windings of the end portions of the wire (I9) desired to be disposed about the said'convolutions of the springs A and B. The shaft (6) rotates through one revolution at each operation of the machine as determined by depression of the foot lever l l) shown in Fig. 2 which controls a conventional punch-press clutch (I2). interposed between the drive pulley (I3), or its equivalent,

and the said drive-shaft (6) in an operative manner, said punch-press clutch being thrown into operating position by depressionof the foot lever (I I) and being self-releasing at the completion of one revolution of the member (I3) so as to restore the member (I) to the normal position shown in Fig. 1 at the completion of said single revolution of the shaft (6).

The said clutch (I2) is controlled by the plunger (I4) which is connected with the pin (I5) of an arm of a rock-shaft (It), said plunger (I4) being actuated by a rotatable cam (ll),

shown in detail in Fig. 5; said cam (I I) is rigid with the drive-shaft of the wire-feeding mechanism which carried the pulley (I8) or an equivalent power applying member, which is thrown into shaft-actuating position by means of a conventional punch-press clutch (I9) controlled by the reciprocable plunger (20) connected by means of bell-crank levers'(2I, 22 and 23) and links (24, 25'and 23) with the foot-lever (II) and the arm (21), actuated by the same, a spring (28) being associated with the lever (II) to maintain the same normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 and cooperating with a stop-arm (29) for this purpose.

In order that the head or member (I) may be always restored to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the drive-shaft (6) is equipped with a brake-drum (59) against which a brake-shoe (6E!) bears under the influence of a spring (6!) engaged with one end of the bar (62) which carries said brake-shoe. Said brake mechanism insures cessation of rotation of the shaft (3) at the instant of release of the clutch (I2). Occasionally, the machine becomes jammed 1 by reason of slippage of the wire (I0) so that a greater length, thereof, at one end is coiled about the springs A and B than at its other end and the coil or coils pile up upon each other to greater diameter than the width of the radial slot in the head (I). Other causes contribute to such jamming and when the same occurs, there is need for preventing stripping of the several gear elements (2, 4, 5, and I) and such means, in the instant case, consists of a pair of dished steel washers (63) which are compressed against "mounted upon the threaded end of the shaft (6) (see Fig. 4).

Thesaid nuts (as and s5) and the washers (es) constitute the equivalent of a friction clutch which permits the shaft (6) to rotate relatively to' the gear wheel (1) when resistance to rotation 7 of the latter exceeds the driving force of the said washers. 7

One of the side plates (3) of the machine may be integral with or rigidly secured to front and rear frame-plates (66) which are suitably secured rigidly to a support (99). Said plate (66) is equipped withstuds (6'!) having annular shoulders between their ends against which the outer plate (3) bears, the reduced end portion of said studs projecting through openings in said plate (3) and being provided with openings to receive the pin (68) between which and said last-mentioned shoulders the said outer plate (3) is confined. The latter may thus be easily removedby removing the said pin (63) for purposes of removing the head (l) in case of the jamming above described or for interchange of heads (I) having radial slots of different width for reception of the overlapped portions of springs A and B, made of lighter or heavier gauge wire.

' The drive shaft (6) is rotatable independently of the feeding mechanism as it is equipped with its own power drive.

On the drive-shaft of said wire-feeding mechanism, there is mounted a bevel gear wheel (3|) which meshes with the bevel gear wheel (32) on a countershaft (33) of the machine or feeding mechanism. The latter is equipped with a crank wheel (33) for rocking a member or pitman (35) which is operatively connected with a bell-crank lever (35) for rocking the latter.

The shaft (33) carries a cam (33-11) which is practically identical with the cam (I'I) in'shape and is provided with the projecting portion (33b) to actuate the plunger (48) which is spring retracted and cooperates with the companion member (49) to efiect severance of the wire (43) at the instant of, or substantially directly after the completion of each stroke of the block (39) as hereinabove described.

A lever (59) pivotally mounted between its ends upon a projection (5i) rigid with the guide member (48) and which is held in wire-engaging position by means of the spring (52) is formed at its other end portion to provide a wire-engaging formation (53) which will prevent the wire (43) from being retracted from its advanced position during movement of the block (39) from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Said bell-crank lever (35) is mounted pivotally at its elbow upon a rigid part (3'!) of the machine frame and at its other. end is pivotally connected with one end of a link (38) which is connected with a sliding block (39) mounted upon a guide member (49) which is carried by the bracket member (Ill) of the machine frame.

The said block (39) is composed of two parts which are pivotally joined by means of the member (39a). The lower part of, said block is provided with a guide 52) for the wire (43) behind two adjustable stop members (44) which limit the rocking movement of the upper part of said block relatively to the lower part thereof. The said upper part carries the wire engaging member (45) which is thrown into engagement with the wire (43) immediately preceding the forward or feed stroke of the said block and is thrown out of engagement with said wire immdiately precedent to the return stroke of the said block as is obvious due to the action of the link (38) and the lever (36) The said wire (43) passes through a cutting die member (as) into a tube (41) which is axially aligned with the openings (9) in the member (I) morass)? ton cause. lengths: ft wire;i indicatediby reference: numeral I ll in=Fig:f.9, .equalinlengthtto; the-stroke3 of? the block; (3.9) .to:beefedithrouglrisaidimemlier I9 at:each' stroke said bloicle:as-la'stidescribedtv It: will: benoted? that" the;:c11ttingzmechamism: consists of" the: membersz- (4'82 andi 4 9)" positioned: contiguouslyto:thet'wiie receiving rendiof the: tube; (4 1-) so that: each cutting: operation: Willi leave a? predetermined length. (19).. of wire, disposed. mainly within;the:tube;-withionly ashorttportiom projecting" from. the latter: and: saidf portion: Willi be aligned axiallyrwithi the succeedingtportiomof: said-wire 333 sosthatatzeacii; forwardzstrokezoii the last (399 saidtwirer (43).. willzadvanceethealasti. cut-oi? portion: or: lengthz IE) off said. wire; for ward a: distance. equal; to its owmlength: 'Iihus= said-lengths: of wire cutnfromzthe: wirefllii are advanced-- successively fed through.- said openings (9') initheimember (Brand againstltther stop. member: (54 mounted upon: a. frame late (3').

Disposedtatithedischarge.endoiisaiditube (M19 isa plate (55) uponiwhichgaremountedipivotallyg a pair of opposed clamping: jaws; (55)- equipped with opposedrecesses in whichthe wire lengths (H!) are engagedsucce'ssivelyr as shownuin' Fig. 65.

: Said jaws (5%) are maintained inyielding engagementwith thewirelengths (IO') by meansoi the spring (51), and constitute a brakemecha- A nism for preventing'movement or feeding of wire lengths (I0) exceptunder the influence of tlie means for projecting'the: same as hereinbefore described. I

The entire machine;. comprising the several mechanisms described: hereinabove; are l mountedabove atable (58) upon which springs A, B; and

(3., etc. are supportedsubstantiallyassliown in tying said springs-together, the said above-de scribedmechanisms are mounted upon one-or more posts (69) depending from the'ceiling-of theroom containing isaid mechanisms.

The tube (41) and the wire feeding and guid ing means-associated with the same are-disposed in axial alignment with the openingsflfii of-theheadv or member (I). V

Obviously, the wires iii) may be fed into lie-- saidopenings (9) by hand? in the instances of omission of a feedingimechanism:

The crank wheel (34) of. the wire-feeding mechanism; servesialso as a brake drum for co operation with. aspringeheldbrake shoe as.=.de"

scribed in connection with the brake; mechanism: (59) for theshaft (5*) to causerthe wireifeeding mechanism to be properly re positioned after each operation of saidfeeding rmechanism.

While the operation, oi: the; machinexinayr be very well understood from the foregoing descriptionin the light of the drawings"; a" brief description of said operation-is appended.

The springs or" the assembly which 18: t'o b'e: made by the machine may consist? OfIPlVOll-EillYf inter-engaged; springs arranged i iniparallelP rows 7 "which: extend; substantially parallel with ltheiaxise of: rotationiofrtheheadlorlmemberz saidirowsi of springs would be equal inlengtli toathezl'engtli: or: widthioi? the"; ultimate. spring assembly and these rowsiwoul'd then be: equippedxwitliithe iormaztionssor; ties-:oi: theztype shown .in vdetailrin: 75; Figs: 8: and. 1!), .though: it: will: be. understood; ofi course; that theufirst" mentioned rowsaof springs may." consist?v ofza'; series: of: the. latter connected: together means: of the; wire: ties showniin: Fi'gs 8.-' and: 10;.orin; any; other suitable: manner; 167 besidesithaizshowrrzit-(10) intEigs'. 7iandr8i. The. latter" type ofi connection of: springs withseanh: other is:-fullyrdescribed andsillustrated pending; applications-i for? patents: for: a. Spring; assembly for upholstery and; fora-av Machine": for: pivot-ally joiningupholstery;springs; respectively;. identifiedzby the: Serial. Nos: 7 13 ;869: and: 715,449i'.

Whetherthe; spring assembly is to be builtsup: gradually by means: of the: wire. ties! shown: in; Eigs 8 and.10;jor:by tying'together rows ofipre+-2$ viously joined springs, as indicated in Figs-2.71 andz8 .the need'for 'ample'free: space f ormanipulatingranappreciable number of springszAgBi andi will be required;-and'to this'end the relativel elevations; of? thesrtoprof the table: (6%): andithefifi radiali. slot: of: the: head. or: member (is)? is; also: important;

The: operator: brings s the terminal convoliitionss'v at the tops of two contiguous:springszAlandi'Bi h t0-be tied; together? into the: positionlshownzin 30 Fig. .7; .within the recess" of the headaor member:

7 (-l and thereupon depresses: the; foot leven' H which causes: therwire-feeding: mechanism: tovbe actuated: in: the manner. above described; to: pro.-

iect a: wire? (it) through: the openings: (9): ini35 the head orrmember'" (:D and; alsothrouginth'e? openings bordered by: the: overlapped. arcuate portions of: the: terminal convolutions': of. the

springs (A and B.

The projection (30) of: the: cam. (1:1) is; nor-40 mally disposed: in: such; a; position. thatz-itt Willi actuate the. wirescutting; plunger either prion? to: orfollowing; the engagement of said: projection: with, the anti-friction rollers of: the; 'armxof. the: u rockshaft (l6) to throwrin the punch' press clutchi I29 and. thus: cause the; predetermined: rotation: of-thehead or-membertl to. cause therrespectivei end: portions ofthe-wire (109' to be" coiledzozr twined: about the overlapped portionsof"; tha springs :A andlBv at" their pointsrof; crossing: each: other..

line selfrelease of. both: of; the: punch press; clutches; at theinstantthattthe respective shaftsa controlled by the operation thereof have com pleted one? revolutioncoupled. with the: action of. the aforesaid brake mechanisms,- assuresthe: re.-p.0sitioning of. the. two mechanismsrasiinitia1ly;, so that.- after. extracting. the: completed; hinge iointed pair OfzSQIiIlfiSt-A and:B from'xtheerecesss of. the i header member l andrthe-positioningl of. another: pairof: overlapped: portions of a-Ppair: of. springs within said-recess, the foregoing .oper-- ationis repeated. These operations are. very? rapidland.aresynchronizedlas requiredh In Figs. 7 to 10;,inclusive,.and particularlyinfi Figs. '7 and 8,. the springs A and.B -are shown tobefoverlappedto a greater extent than is common in the actual manufacture of spring assemblies. The recess of"thehead* (1)" serves to' bring the overlapped portionsofsprings'A and B into position to cause the same to' engage diametrically" opposite sides" of the wire lll) during the first" quarterflrevolution of said-breadth and" thisfis" efiec'ti've'a'lso to cause the windings at thc end portions 10f the wire (109 th embrace-the crossing points ofthe springs more accurately than is shown in Fig. 8.

By reference to Figs. '7, 9, and 10, it will be,

noted that the terminal convolutions of the springs A and B are inserted into the recess of the head (I) so that the convex side of the lower convolution opposes the semi-cylindrical end wall of said recess'and the concave side of the end convolution of the other spring is opposed to the said end wall and is disposed at the higher elevation. The head (I) rotates clockwise as seen in Fig. 1 and during its first quarter-revolution causes the upper wall of said recess to bear upon the convex side of the last-mentioned convolution and crowd the same against the tie-wire (III), the convex side of the first-mentioned convolution being held in contact with the rear wall of the recess by the operator. Thus the tie-wire (It) is clamped between the overlapped convolutions and so held while the end portions are being coiled.

Obviously, the feeding of a length (ll!) of wire into the head or member (I) must precede the rotation of the latter and, preferably, the wire cutting operation of the plunger (48) will occur at the instant of completion of the said feeding operation and at substantially the same instant that the clutch (I2) is thrown in to cause the rotation of said member (I).

Reference herein to a conventional punch-press clutch is intended to include any well known mechanism for performing the desired function of effecting forced rotation through a single revolution of a driving element and including automatic stoppage of the said driving member at the completion of said single revolution.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for the purpose specified. comprising a drive shaft, a power actuated member,

a conventional punch-press clutch for engaging said shaft with said power actuated member, a rotatable member equipped with a radial recess extending from end to end thereof and terminatingat its innerend in a semi-cylindrical wall concentric with the axis of rotation of said member, and opening in each end of said head at respectively opposite sides of said recess and communicating with the latter, the said openings having a common axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said member, and gearing between said member and said drive shaft for causing the former to rotate through a given number of complete revolutions for each complete revolution of said driveshaft.

, 2. A machine for the purpose specified comprising a drive-shaft, a power actuated member, a conventional punch-press clutch for engaging said shaft with said power actuated member, a rotatable member equipped with a radial recess extending from end to end thereof and terminating at its inner end in a semi-cylindrical wall concentric with the axis of rotation of said member, an'opening ineach end of said head at respectively opposite sides of said recess and communicating with the latter, the said openings having a common axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said member, bearings for the ends of said member having recesses registering normally with the recess of said member, gearing between said member and said drive shaft for causing the former to rotate through a given number of complete. revolutions for'each complete revolution of said drive-shaft, and a brake for said drive-shaft cooperating with the said clutch to cause said member to be restored to its initial position after each actuation thereof.

3. A machine for the purpose specified comprising a drive-shaft, a power actuated member,

a conventional punch-press clutch for engaging 5 said shaft with said power actuated member, a rotatable member equipped with a radial recess extending from end to end thereof and terminating at its inner end in a semi-cylindrical wall concentric with the axis of rotation of said member, an opening in each end of said head at respectively opposite sides of said recess and communicating with the latter, the said openings having a common axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said member, bearings for the ends of said member having recesses registering normally with the recess of said member, gearing between said member and said drive-shaft for causing the former to rotate through a given number of complete revolutions for each complete revolution of said drive-shaft, frictional tersecting angular relation to the axis of rotation of said head, of a stop disposed for cooperation Withsaid openings to cause said length of wire to intersect the axis of rotation of said head at a point substantially midway between the ends of said wire and driving mechanism for said head, including a drive-shaft, gearing between the same and said head, and a frictional drive association between said shaft and said gearing.

5. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the 40 combination with a rotatable wire twisting head equipped with openings to receive a length of wire and arranged to position the same in intersecting angular relation to the axis of rotation of said head, of a stop disposed for cooperation with said openings to cause said length of wire to intersect the axis of rotation of said head at a point substantially midway between the ends of said wire and driving mechanism for said head including a drive-shaft, a conventional punch-press clutch for associating the same with a source of power, gearing between said shaft and said head, and a frictional drive association between said shaft and said gearing.

6. A machine of the type specified including a rotatable cylindrical head mounted in bearings in the machine frame and equipped with spur gear teeth between its ends, said head provided with a radial recess extending from end to end, thereof, and having an inner semi-cylindrical wall disposed concentric with the axis of rotation of said head, and equipped with openings in its opposite ends having a common axis extending angularly of and intersecting the said axis of said head, there being radial slots in said bearings adapted to register with the said recess of said head, a source of power, and gearing between the latter and said head for rotating the latter.

'7. A machine of the type specified comprising a source of power, a drive shaft, a conventional punch-press clutch interposed between the latter and said source of power, a spur gear wheel rotatable on said drive-shaft, friction means engaging the same with said shaft, a spring-held brake operatively associated with said shaft for preventing rotation thereof under momentum following release of said clutch, a rotatable wire coiling head, bearings for the same, a radial recess in said head arranged to register with radial slots in said bearings for the reception of overlapped coils of springs to be tied together and tie-wire receiving openings in said head having a common axis intersecting the axis of rotation of the latter, said gearing and said clutch and brake cooperating to cause said head to rotate a predetermined number of revolutions following each throw-in of said clutch from a position wherein said recess of said head is in register with the slots of the bearings back to said position. l

l 8. In a machine of the type specified including a tie-wire coiling head, a machine frame including parallel walls equipped with bearings for said head, a .drive shaft having an end portion pro-jecttions, a lock-pin extending through said lastmentioned openings and engaged with one of said Walls for holding the same in position relatively to the other wall, trunnions on. said head and the gear wheel of said train interposed between the said head and the said drive-shaft, and bearings in said walls for said trunnions, said pin removable to permit removal of said last-named wall and said last mentioned gear wheels and head.

9. The combination with a machine of the type specified, including a tie-wire coiling head equipped with means for receiving and engaging the wire of predetermined length, of a tie-wire feeding mechanism including mechanism for progressively moving a long length of wire toward said head a distance equal to the predetermined length of said tie-wire, cutting mechanism operatively associated with said feeding mechanism for automatically cutting the wire following each feed movement thereof to be cut off prior to operation of said cutting mechanism and maintaining the cut-off portion in axial alignment with the following portion of the wire for movement by the latter, means associated with said tube for frictional engagement with cut-off wire lengths to resist movement thereof independently of the following wire, said tube arranged to deliver cut-off wire lengths constituting tie-wires, to said tie-wire receiving means of said head.

10,. The combination with a machine of the type, specified, including a tie-wire coiling head equipped with means for receiving and engaging tie-wire of predetermined length, of a tie-wire feeding mechanism including mechanism for progressively moving a long length of wire toward said head a distance equal to the predetermined length of said tie-Wire, cutting mechanism operatively associated with said feeding mechanism for automatically cutting the wire following each feed-movement thereof, a tube arranged in the path of the Wire and receiving the end portion thereof to be cut off prior to operation of said cutting mechanism and maintaining the cut-off portion in axial alignment with the following portion of the wire for movement by the latter, means associated with said tube for frictional engagement with cut-off wire lengths to resist movement thereof independently of the following wire, said tube arranged to deliver cut-off Wire lengths constituting tie-wires, to said tie- Wire receiving means of said head, and a stop arranged for cooperation with said feeding means and said head for effecting predetermined 5 positioning of said tie-wires relatively to said head. i

11. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-Wire of predetermined length, and means associated with said head for positioning said tie-wire in said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, a manually controlled power-supplying means for operating said feed mechanism and means including in the latter and the first-named mecha- 20,

nism for controlling operation of the latter in synchronism with said, feed mechanism.

12. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length, and means associated with said head for positioning said tie-wire in said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head,. a manually controlled power supplying means for operating said feed mechanism and means including in the latter and the firstnamed mechaoperation of said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head a conventional punch-press controlling l the operation of the said feed mechanism, means included in the latter for throwing in the firstmentioned punch-press clutch at a given point in the movement of said feed mechanism and a manually operable lever controlling the secondnamed punch-press clutch.

14, The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a-coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length and means associated with said head for positioning said tie-wire in said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, frictional tie-wire enga ing means associated with said tube for resisting movement, thereof independently of the action of said feed mechanism, a manually controlled power supplying means for operating said feed mechanism and means including in the latter and the first-named mechanism for controlling operation of the latter in synchronism with said feed mechanism.

15. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length and means associated with said head for positioning said tie-wire in said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-Wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, frictional tie-wire engaging means associated with said tube for resisting movement, thereof, independently of the action of said feed mechanism, conventional punch-press clutches controlling the operation of both said mechanisms, means included in the latter for throwing in the first-mentioned punch-press clutch at a given point in the movement of said feed mechanism and a manually operable lever controlling the second-named punch-press clutch.

16. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of pre-' determined length and means associated with said head for positioning said tie-wire in said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, conventional punch-press clutches controlling the operation of both said mechanisms, means included in the latter for throwing in the first-mentioned punch-press clutch at a given point in the movement of saidfeed mechanism and a manually operable lever controlling the second-named punch-press clutch.

17. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length and means associated with said head for positioning said tie-wire in said head, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, control means for both said mechanisms operable independently of each other, means included in the feed mechanism for effecting operation of the first-named mechanism at a given point in the operation of the feed mechanism, and a manually operable lever for actuating the control means for the feed mechanism. 7

18. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length, of a tie-wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, a manually controlled power supplying means for operating said feed mechanism, and means including in the latter and the first-named mechanism for controlling operation of the latter in synchronism with said feed mechanism.

19. The combination with a wire-tie coiling mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length, of a tie wire feed tube disposed in axial alignment with said openings, wire feeding and cutting mechanism associated with said tube for successively supplying tie-wires to said tube and projecting them from the same into said head, conventional punch-press clutches controlling the operation of both said mechanisms, means included in the latter for throwing in the first-mentioned punch-press clutch at a mechanism including a coiling head equipped with openings to receive and engage a tie-wire of predetermined length, of a feed mechanism for feeding the wires to said head, a conventional punchpress clutch controlling the operation of said head, a conventional punch-press clutch controlling the operation of the said feed mechanisms, means included in the latter for throwing in the first-mentioned punch-press clutch at a given point in the movement of said feed mechanism, and a manually operable lever controlling the second-named punch-press clutch.

21. A machine of the type set forth, a rotatable wire coiling head adapted to receive and rotate relatively to a pair of spaced-apart wires to be coupled and means in said head for engaging a piece of the wire at its opposite end portions which extends angularly of and between said wires, whereby upon rotation of said head relatively to said spaced apart wires, the said end portions of said wire will be coiled about said first-named wires.

22. In a machine of the kind specified, a rotatable head having an axial hollow extending from end to end thereof and of a diameter sufficient to receive a pair of spaced apart wires about which said head is adapted to rotate, and means in said head extending angularly of and having an axis intersecting the axis of said head between the ends of the latter and adapted to engage 0pposite end portions of tie wire disposed between its ends between said first-named wires, whereby upon rotation of said head relatively to said spaced apart wires, the said end portions of said tie wire will be coiled about said first-named wires.

23. A mechanism for coupling Wires while maintaining the same spaced from each other at one point which comprises rotatable means arranged for rotation relatively to and about a pair of spaced apart wires and means included in said rotatable means for engaging the end portions of the tie wire extending angularly of said spaced apart wires and passed between the same, whereby upon rotating said rotatable means relatively to the said spaced apart wires, the end portions of said tie wire will be coiled about said spaced apart wires while an intermediate portion of said tie wire remains disposed therebetween.

CHACE D. GILMORE. 

